Tuesday 15/04/2014, 19:00, England Premier League, Round 34, Arsenal vs West Ham
Arsenal vs West Ham Betting Preview
At an earlier point this season, Arsenal was among the favorites to win the Premier League but a string of disappointing results in 2014 shattered their dreams. They haven't won a trophy in the last eight years and also missing on the Champions League this season, would only add to the pressure on
Arsene Wenger. West Ham comfortably seats at the middle of the standings, with a wide gap separating them from the relegation area, so they are virtually carefree.
Arsenal vs West Ham Betting Odds
Arsenal 1.45, Draw 5.00 West Ham 8.50
Arsenal vs West Ham Betting Tips
Arsenal played a lot of games recently and prior to the FA Cup semifinal, they were winless in four consecutive games. This includes a lopsided defeat to Chelsea and an even more frustrating upset in Liverpool against Everton, who overtook them in the standings as a result. As for the FA cup fixture against Wigan, the Londoners needed an overtime goal to qualify for the final.
The fact that they had to play over time won't make matters easier for Arsenal, as the players have already spent many minutes on the pitch. Before that fixture, they were without six players and now that Ozil joined them on the disabled list, Arsenal lost much of its firepower. It is uncertain for how long the German will remain sidelined, but it is certain that he won't feature tonight in Arsene Wenger's team.
The hosts trailed Everton by two points and they no longer have a game in hand, so failing to win tonight will allow their rivals to expand the gap separating them. There are only five more games to go before the season ends, but Arsenal is fortunate enough to encounter weaker teams in the remaining games.
Beating West Ham at home shouldn't be much of a challenge, at least if we take into account past performance, but much has changed. Arsenal is without seven players and are clearly out of form, while the visitors have picked up after a disappointing January. They held Chelsea to a scoreless draw and won against Sunderland, Aston Villa and Cardiff, with these points lifting them above the relegation area.
Key Facts
- Allardyce has an outstanding record against the best teams in the Premier League and his defensive strategy should work just fine against Arsenal
- The hosts' midfield is broken and they are expected to start with Sanogo upfront, a striker that played just five games this season and is yet to score
Arsenal vs West Ham Betting Prediction
Bookmakers are quick to overestimate Arsenal whenever they have home pitch advantage and the odds for a home win are ridiculously low. A better choice is to give credit to West Ham to cover the spread and not lose by two goals or more against their London rivals.
Bet: West Ham +1.5 goals @ 1.78 with Pinnacle Sports
